Bob Dylan's song has nothing to do with bike touring, but it did provide inspiration for today's subtitle.  Like Bob, I actually was stuck in a town where I did not want to be for the whole day.  So, I thought it would be courteous to post the song for you to listen to while reading about this gloomy day.

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When I got checked into a Garden City motel yesterday afternoon, I was too wet, cold and exhausted to post an entry.  I just wanted to take a shower for the first time in three days, get some hot food, and relax in front of the TV.  I turned the shower water up as hot as I could take it.  I could not believe I still had goosebumps on my legs as I washed.  Then I watched the very fine movie "Ladybird" on HBO.

Anyway, it was still raining outside this morning, and the downpour was expected to continue until at least mid-afternoon.  Cowardly Cowboy Greg went to the motel lobby and asked to stay another night.  His request was cheerfully granted.

It may have been cowardly, but it did give me a little time to regain my bearings.  And I liked that it gave me time to answer a backlog of journal comments, write a page about yesterday, and write another inconsequential one for today.  I had a couple of topics I have been wanting to write about, but the opportunity hadn't presented itself until my off day.

Wildlife

The coyote sighting yesterday got me to thinkin' about the wildlife I've seen on this trip.  Aside from squirrels, rabbits, and common birds, wildlife has been pretty scarce.  I know bigger animals are out there because I've seen them squished on the road.  I did get to see several live deer grazin' in the dry Cimmaron River, which was pretty cool.  I saw a couple pheasants and many wild turkeys.  Plenty of hawks.  A couple of bald eagles.  Geese.  A great blue heron.  A turtle.  And my first Texas horned frog.  I'm happy to report I've seen very few bugs and no snakes.

Maybe the most interesting bit of Kansas wildlife I've seen in southwest Kansas has been a bird.  I like watching birds, but as I said earlier, I am not a bird expert.  Usually, I don't even know what kind of bird it is I'm watching,  but I was so curious about this particular Kansas bird that I took the time to try to figure out what it was.

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Scott AndersonCorrect!!!
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1 month ago

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marilyn swettWe have these grackles here in Mesa. They gather in flocks and when they all start screeching, are very noisy and annoying. Not to mention all of the poop!
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Emily SharpNot sure if that is what went after my mom at the rest area, but gosh was it funny.
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I first saw these birds in Dodge City while killing time in a city park.  I just thought they were blackbirds.  They were innocently flittering from one place to the next, and chattering and chirping.  Then one of them let out a screech like I had never heard before.  I heard a couple more of those screeches too.  I think they were directed at me.

In Liberal, I heard the same thing while eating peanut butter at another city park.  This particular Great Tailed Grackle (if that's what it was) was kind of aggressive, but it didn't actually attack me.  

I'm trying to think of an original way to describe the screech of those birds, but I can think of no better way than to repeat what I read on a birding website:  It's "like the sound of a rusty swinging gate."

I observed they scavenge for scraps of food, and they'll fight for it successfully over other birds.  They don't get along with other birds at all.  Of all the birds I saw those grackles chase, only pigeons would stand up to them.

Human Wildlife 

I usually am successful in avoiding human wildlife on my bike tours, but several members of that species approached me while I was camping in the state park and, I admit to enjoying all of them.

While biking back to the state park from the Little Pyramids, a rancher in a big white pick-up truck pulled up alongside of me and rolled down his window.  He asked me where I was goin' and where I was from and he welcomed me to Kansas.  I told him how much I was enjoyin' this part of Kansas.  He tipped his cowboy hat and wished me safe travels.

Back at camp, the RVers who had pulled into the site next to mine asked a lot of questions about what I was doing.  They were very friendly and encouraging too.  They said, "if there's anything you need, feel free to let us know."  I appreciated the offer but assured them that I have good equipment and am very self-sufficient.

Another couple came by and surmised I was traveling by bike since there was no car at the campsite.  I think the husband was too humble to tell me he was going to be doing the Bike Ride Across Kansas in a few weeks, but the wife was more than proud to tell me about it.  Finally, the husband spoke up and said he was so jealous of the adventure I'm on.  

Later, a guy from Vermont came over for a talk.  Better yet, he came over with an offer of a cup of bourbon.  What kind of guy would turn down a bit of Kentucky whiskey?  For sure, I'm not that kind of guy.  And the result was a great discussion about travel and life. 

Food Picture  

I decided to treat myself to a restaurant meal today.  In order to avoid the dinnertime rush, I went out to find a place to eat at 3:30 p.m.  It didn't take long to find one that piqued my interest--Walk-On's Sports Bistreaux--a place that features Louisiana cookin'.  I don't mean to brag but the Cajun dishes I make myself are the best, but I thought it might be fun to try some Kansas Cajun in a "sports bistreaux."

There were big screens of every sporting event you can imagine inside.  Despite the distractions, my blackened redfish was perfectly cooked and surprisingly delicious.  The chicken gumbo was pretty good too, and I told the server so.  She had the look and speech of a stoner, but my server was quite efficient. 

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